Trade puts Rockets on path to land superstar such as Dwight Howard

The deal itself was relatively minor and entirely uncomplicated. The Rockets sent Chase Budinger to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday to get the first-round pick Minnesota acquired from Utah, the 18th pick overall. The plot, however, quickly thickens with possibilities.

Like a batter swinging a weighted bat before coming to the plate, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey took a warm-up cut Tuesday, hoping it gets him ready to start swinging for the fences.

If the Rockets’ plans — or at least their preferences — were not already obvious enough, the trade offered more evidence they are chasing much more than the players likely to be available when they are on the clock in the middle of the first round of the NBA draft Thursday.

The ultimate goal has been to land a franchise star, with Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard the current target. Already stocked with more first-round picks than they want to add to the three players selected last year, the Rockets added the 18th to the 14th and 16th picks in the hopes the collection will help them pull off the next deal.

They have been in talks with several teams about trades that would move them into the top 10, hoping a more valuable pick would help entice Orlando into making a trade. The Rockets were in talks with the Magic up until shortly before the March 15 trade deadline when Howard signed to opt in for one more season on his contract.

Willing to acquire Howard with no guarantee he would remain beyond last season, the Rockets are very willing to “roll the dice” (as he advised the Magic) that they can sign him after next season.

The Rockets can offer a combination of veterans with attractive contracts, players still on their rookie-scale deals and cap room if they have to take extra players to make a deal work. The deal Tuesday was to help them be able to offer a more coveted pick.

With Howard, if the Rockets can keep much of their cap space available, they could seek another top player in free agency to join him and potentially persuade him to sign long- term.

Though speculation Tuesday centered on Deron Williams, with Howard believed to want to join Williams in Brooklyn, the Rockets are more likely to try to land New Orleans guard Eric Gordon, a restricted free agent, with an offer the Hornets would not match, according to an individual with knowledge of their thinking.

Tricky maneuvering

That would get even more complicated. Unless they have moved other contracts to clear enough cap room for Gordon, the Rockets likely would have to renounce their rights to Goran Dragic.

They have made no secret of their hopes to keep Dragic and would especially want him back if they have already dealt Kyle Lowry in this week’s maneuvering.

Morey’s trade talks have not been entirely about landing Howard or another franchise player. According to an individual with knowledge of their planning, the Rockets hope to make a significant move up in the draft to use the pick themselves if they can’t flip the pick to the veteran of their dreams.

Morey has worked to move up in the draft every season since taking over as general manager, moving up three spots with his second first-round pick last season to get Donatas Motiejunas.

Budinger was a 2009 second-round pick, the 44th pick overall, but he was replaced by Chandler Parsons, last season’s second-rounder, in the Rockets’ starting lineup. The Rockets also sent the draft rights to Israeli forward Lior Eliyahu, a 2006 second-round pick, to Minnesota.

Trade excites Budinger

With the deal, Budinger, who has averaged 9.4 points on 43.5 percent shooting and 3.4 rebounds in his two seasons, is reunited with former Rockets coach Rick Adelman and almost all of his staff with the Rockets.

“I’m real excited to be playing for coach Adelman again,” Budinger said. “He knows what I’m capable of doing. It’s not like I’m going to a completely new team and it will take a while to adjust. I know the system, and I can jump in right away. It has been a crazy day.”

For the Rockets, it could get much crazier, with Tuesday’s offering a small step in that direction.

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Enough 1st-round picks to have lots of options

With Tuesday’s trade of Chase Budiinger to acquire a third first-round pick in Thursday’s NBA draft, the Rockets have positioned themselves to deal on draft night and beyond. Rating different scenarios on the Dwight-O-Meter:

BE BIG (AGAIN)

The Rockets’ top priority remains to land their next franchise star, with Magic center Dwight Howard the latest object of their affection to fill the void left by Yao Ming’s injuries and retirement. After last season’s deal for Pau Gasol was blocked and talks with Orlando for Howard ended at the trade deadline, the Rockets have collected assets to pursue a move again.

MOVIN’ ON UP

The Rockets have been in talks to land top-10 picks to entice the Magic into a deal but would be just fine with getting a chance at a few of the top prospects themselves. Daryl Morey has tried to make that kind of move every season since becoming general manager. With Andre Drummond potentially slipping a few picks, he could be an attractive project.

ONE AND DONEThe Rockets were able to get players much higher on their boards with the 14th pick the past two seasons. If someone they rate especially high should slip enough, they could settle for making one pick and trying to make the most of it, perhaps moving up just a few spots (as they did last season to get Donatas Motiejunas) to land the player they want.

THREE’S A CROWD

With three picks from 14 to 18, the Rockets could add them to last season’s three selections and have coach Kevin McHale drive them around in a YMCA minivan. The Rockets would rather not have so many players so young on one roster, and even if they make the picks, they could choose to move them a short while later.